BA News – Breaking News Updates Latest News Headlines
Top speed limits at all WA traffic-light intersections will be dropped to 70 kilometres-per-hour across the next two years, as part of a State Government plan to prevent serious crashes.
The move aims to create a State-wide consistent maximum speed limit through the signalised intersections.
Marmion Avenue, Gnangara Road, and Bussell Highway have been named as some of the 66 intersections to be altered this year.
A further 40 will be addressed next year.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said 90 per cent of traffic-light intersections already had an uppermost speed of 70kph, the plan would simply deal with the remaining 100 intersections which currently had higher limits.
“We’ll be working on the remaining 10 per cent to ensure this consistency across the State,” she said.
“The vast majority of intersections that will be impacted are 80km/h already, so this is only a small change that will make a positive difference.
“The figures show that reducing the speed limit and traffic lights from 80 to 70 will create a 15 per cent reduction in those that are killed or seriously injured.
“It’s all about saving lives and creating better consistency across the network.”
The change came after a review of Main Roads Speed Zoning Policy and Application Guidelines was undertaken, to achieve better alignment with Australian Standards.
Ms Saffioti said of 82 major crashes where an occupant was killed or seriously injured 66 were recorded at the signalised intersections in the five years to the end of 2021.
The first phase of the initiative will see changes made to signalised intersections along Ocean Reef Road, Rockingham Road, Forrest Highway, Marmion Avenue, Gnangara Road, Patterson Road, Ennis Avenue, Mandurah Road, Tonkin Highway, and Wanneroo Road.
It comes after the death of 18-year-old Zekiya Bultitude who died when she lost control and rolled several times when driving a Toyota LandCruiser west on the Gibb River-Wyndham Road in Durack about 7.15am on Sunday.
Zekiya’s death was one of several fatalities in a horror weekend on WA’s roads, with 18-year-old Dominic Burns also losing his life after a crash in Mindarie on Saturday.
Two women, aged 31 and 56, died after a head-on collision on the Great Central Road, about 170km south west of Warburton, on Sunday.
Ms Saffioti announced the speed limit changes on Thursday as she reviewed the latest update to the Tonkin Gap and Morley-Ellenbrook Line project at Morley’s Broun Avenue Bridge.
A two-day shutdown of Tonkin Highway between Morley Drive and Collier Road across the weekend allowed for the last 18 of 92 total bridge beams to be installed — marking a milestone for the project.
By the end of the year, traffic should be allowed to flow across the structure.
The precinct in Morley will also receive a new 400-bay multi-storey car park, a 12-stand bus interchange, and two new additional foot paths to connect the new train station.
At more than 60 metres wide and 6.5m high, it will be one of Perth’s widest roads and bus interchange bridges.
Ms Saffioti said the overall project was expected to save Tonkin Highway motorists between six to seven minutes of travel time and provide residents with more transport options.
